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Just in!

Trigger Monkey

Trigger Monkey

Ronin
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Apr 29, 2005
    4,224
    4,960
    Winchester Virginia
    Shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday I gave WeatherHawk a call to see if I could get one of their WM-350 weather meters for a review. I hadn't heard anything from them but I was pleasantly surprised today when it showed up at my front door. I'm planning to update the article I just posted on the main page and do a separate comparison to the Kestrel 4500NV that will have more information regarding the weather meter.

    IMG_4341.jpg


    I've only been using it for about an hour but I'm already liking what I'm seeing in terms of set up and ease of use. The WM-350 takes all of the usual environmental measurements but also features density altitude and an electronic compass. I'm still learning all of the features but so far it looks like it could be a less expensive alternative to the Kestrels.
     
    Re: Just in!

    I'd be curious on a side by side reading of wind velocity, as in do they both read the same. It's gotta be tough to calibrate those things to real wind velocity and it might be difficult to get the same brand reading the same velocities.

    Let us know and thanks for being the guinea pig.
     
    Re: Just in!

    Well preliminary testing in the house and just out in my yard is pointing to that these things are reading pretty close to the same. Temps were within about a 1*F of each other and the thermostat inside, the DA between both units was less than 50', compass readings were pretty much dead nuts on, and humidity readings were also well with accuracy tolerances.
     
    Re: Just in!

    Looks good. What kind of price difference was there between this model and a kestrel? I'm also interested in a review.
     
    Re: Just in!

    I would say so far the WM-350 is comparing favorably to the Kestrel in most aspects and the guys at WeatherHawk have been pretty good too.

    As far as prices go the the WM-350 has an MSRP of $250 so it's a bit less then the Kestrel 4500NV but still has similar features. That being said depending on where you look you can find a WM 350 for quite a bit less than that but the same goes for most things.

    I'm hoping to gather enough data by the weekend to come up with some meaningful averages across a few different days/weather conditions. The short story is though that the wind velocities are reading the same pretty much, temps are very close, humidity within a % or two, density altitude usually within a 100', and this has been pretty consistent across the board.
     
    Re: Just in!

    Tag....

    I trust Ian's judgement in most things practical-rifle and I look forward to what he has to say about this piece of Kit.
     
    Re: Just in!

    Thanks for the good knowledge. Do you think you might post another review after you've had a chance to use the WM-350 at the range?
     
    Re: Just in!

    Curious to know if you've had a chance to use the WM-350 at the range/field along side the Kestrel 4500 and which one was the best bang for the buck? Thanks, jl
     
    Re: Just in!

    I'm pretty much done with comparing the two units, I'm just writing up the review now but between the holidays and my new job time has been limited. I've only had one opportunity to use the two units side by side at the range and both performed very well. For all intents and purposes the numbers were the same and wouldn't have made a difference in adjustments. If I remember correctly it was something like 100' of difference in DA and about a degree difference in temperature. Overall I'm pretty happy with the WM-350, thus far it's been a pretty solid unit that's been accurate and provides a lot of features that translate to long range shooting. I plan on finishing up the review tomorrow so be on the lookout.
     
    Re: Just in!

    I wanted to let everyone know that the comparison review is up on the Sniper's Hide main page.

    http://www.snipershide.com/2013/02/weatherhawk-wm-350-an-alternative-to-the-kestrel-4500nv/

    It took a while but I have to say that I'm impressed by this unit and I wouldn't have any problem using it in a match or at the range. I didn't include it in the article but I've had to use both units at work to prove to a certain subcontractor that there were heating issues. The WM-350 spit out the same numbers as the Kestrel and let me put one in one room and keep the other with me to show ambient air temp, the speed of the air coming out of the heaters, and the temperature of the air coming out of the unit. From 52*F to 110*F the WM-350 didn't skip a beat and a lot of people were surprised that I could pick up the air coming out of the heating unit five feet away.
     
    Re: Just in!

    Good review. I have been looking for a good weather meter and now have another one to look at.
     
    Re: Just in!

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Trigger Monkey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wanted to let everyone know that the comparison review is up on the Sniper's Hide main page.

    http://www.snipershide.com/2013/02/weatherhawk-wm-350-an-alternative-to-the-kestrel-4500nv/

    It took a while but I have to say that I'm impressed by this unit and I wouldn't have any problem using it in a match or at the range. I didn't include it in the article but I've had to use both units at work to prove to a certain subcontractor that there were heating issues. The WM-350 spit out the same numbers as the Kestrel and let me put one in one room and keep the other with me to show ambient air temp, the speed of the air coming out of the heaters, and the temperature of the air coming out of the unit. From 52*F to 110*F the WM-350 didn't skip a beat and a lot of people were surprised that I could pick up the air coming out of the heating unit five feet away. </div></div>

    Not only used at the range but now a tax write off.

    Nice.
     
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